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Stafford, SMSD mull over annexation

SESHADRI KUMAR, Chronicle Correspondent

Published
5:30 am CST, Monday, October 30, 2006

Stafford did not annex areas in its extraterritorial jurisdiction for more than two decades because the seven-square-mile city would end up with three more school districts, besides its own Stafford Municipal School District, when those areas become a part of the city.

Knowing well the pitfalls of a territorial war with neighboring school districts, and with little chance of winning any concession from them, Stafford Mayor Leonard Scarcella has avoided the annexation issue so far.

According to the SMSD Web site, "In 1977, following a disannexation election, Stafford Municipal School District was created out of the 181-square-mile Fort Bend ISD and Houston ISD."

The city of Stafford spent five years in state and federal courts to create the district authorized by the election.

Now, Scarcella, the city's longtime mayor, and Councilman Cecil Willis think it is time to revive the annexation issue. That was a topic of discussion at the joint City Council and SMSD school board meeting held Oct. 24 at City Hall.

A small sliver of land along U.S. 59 adjacent to the city of Meadows Place is in Stafford's ETJ, but in Alief Independent School District. A chunk of land between Murphy Road and Beltway 8 and another portion at Stafford Road and Beltway 8 are in the city's ETJ, but in the Houston Independent School District. The area around Avenue E, Dulles Avenue and U.S.90 A, and a part of Fifth Street area along Murphy Road are also in Stafford's ETJ, but in the Fort Bend Independent School District.

Since state law does not allow the SMSD to annex land, the city has found itself in a bind. Stafford wants its boundary to be conterminous with SMSD boundary.

Willis said the easiest part of annexation would be the small portion of a prime commercial land in Alief ISD. If Alief relinquished jurisdiction and the property were developed, Alief could be compensated financially, while providing no service to students as there are none now. But, Alief ISD rejected the idea five years ago, and the land is under litigation between the owner and the developer now, Willis said.

Trustee Hector Acevedo said unless Alief ISD agreed to give up its jurisdiction, SMSD cannot annex that portion. Also, Acevedo said he had heard that FBISD is not going to give up its territory.

Trustee Ettienne Zak asked why they were talking about annexation, if it was not feasible.

Scarcella said when Rod Paige was the HISD superintendent, he had indicated a desire to discuss the annexation issue with Stafford, but the matter was not followed up.

Also, there is a political desire among mayors of Sugar Land and Missouri City and officials of Fort Bend County that the blighted portion of Fifth Street should be annexed by a city so that the area could be developed. Further, FBISD is not in a position to build schools faster, Scarcella said. Thus, there is an opportunity, he said.

Willis said the city should try to work with the Legislature and change the law so that the land annexed by the city becomes a part of SMSD. If the school district's power to annex is reinstated, it would solve the problem, he said.

The annexation process takes at least three years. If started now, nothing would happen until 2010, Scarcella said.

First, the school district should be willing to annex. Oherwise, the whole exercise would be meaningless, Scarcella said. Both governing bodies should develop a plan and then make contact with the relevant people, he said.

Attorneys for the city and the school board said the long annexation process can be avoided if the land in question had no students. In such a case, two school districts could enter into an agreement and swap the area.

Trustee Greg Holsapple asked if the school district would have the right to approve the annexation or if City Council action alone would suffice. Scarcella said both entities would be involved in the annexation process.

After a suggestion that something be put in writing to the effect that both the parties are interested in annexation, Stafford City Councilman Jeff Smith said City Council would consider it at its next meeting and send the proposal to the school district for its consideration.

If annexation occurs, some HISD and FBISD students would become SMSD students, according to officials, but, that remains a big question mark.